Our firm, Arcilla Research, has created a family of new materials with exceptional properties under its RUBACONProgram. RUBACON – Resource Utilization for Building And CONstruction is a unit of Arcilla Research that aims to counter climate change and poverty.

We seek to create a presence in countries worldwide by establishing a RUBACON Centre. The Centre will serve to transfer the technology to the economically-deprived people of the host country, providing skills training that will lead to their setting up SMEs for the production of useful materials and products from ’waste’.

The RUBACON Programme – based on utilisation of secondary and renewable resources – includes a group of interrelated projects with the key project, advanced building materials and construction system, at the core. Please note that the materials are low to zero carbon and lightweight – gender-sensitive; they may be produced and assembled by women and older children. The construction system is designed to be energy autonomous and stable – providing extremely high resistance to earthquake, storm, fire and flood. Please take note of the two major systems and their advantages:

The RUBACON Materials and Construction System and the RUBACON ADOBE System

the RUBACON materials are based on a micro mineral binder system

the design is hexagonal and consists of a series of panel components

the design is based on a modified form of ’rondavel’ – a typical system of building in southern Africa

the form and fibre-reinforced materials make for stability, providing high resistance to storm and earthquake

the panels are comprised of materials made from secondary and renewable resources

the ADOBE System panels are comprised of earth components

the panels in both systems are water resistant and water repellent

the materials are zero carbon and lightweight – gender-sensitive

they may be produced and assembled by women and older children

the initial or shelter panel is intended to protect against the elements

a wall panel provides excellent insulation against both heat and cold

a structural panel of high flexural and compressive strength and high thermal storage capacity

We have conducted various Action Plans to Counter Climate Change and Poverty for different areas around the world and four World Bank Proposals, two of which were approved as finalists for the Development Marketplace 2006 event in Washington.